Thursday, October 13, 2011

Peter King: DHS should focus on homegrown Islamist terrorists

WASHINGTON - Rep. Pete King is pushing reforms at the Department of Homeland Security to include a formal focus on targeting "homegrown violent Islamist extremism."

Companion bills drafted by the House Homeland Security Committee chairman and his Senate counterpart, Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), would require DHS to tap a czar to oversee the operation.

"Sen. Lieberman and I think it's important to focus on the most serious threat, and Islamist radicalism is the most dangerous threat," the Long Island Republican said. "By not saying that, we would be creating the appearance of equivalency with any number of different threats."

Under President Obama, Homeland Security has avoided the term "terrorism" and references to radical Islam....